KR100352514B1 - Powder inhaler - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for dispensing single doses of powdered medicament has a housing for holding a container which has a number of sealed apertures containing individual encapsulating doses of medicament. The container can move relative to the housing to allow each aperture in succession to be brought into registry with an airway which communicates with a mouthpiece. The device includes a piercing member, such as a pin, which can be inserted into a selected aperture to break its respective seals. The configuration and movement of the pin are such that this action expels substantially no powder from the aperture.

Description

Powder Inhaler {POWDER INHALER}

It is known to treat certain respiratory problems (particularly asthma) by administering finely divided granules of pharmacologically active compounds by inhaler. One known inhaler for dispensing such materials is presented in GB 2178965 (Glaxo Group Limited), which comprises a circular carrier comprising a plurality of blisters, each bubble having an individual amount of The material is encapsulated. When attempting to administer a medicament, the user moves a slider which activates an indexing means for continuously matching the bubble with the vent. The user then pivots a separate handle that ruptures the bubble where it matches the vent, allowing the drug to self-administer by the user's inhalation through a mouthpiece in communication with the vent.

However, if the user operates the piercing device and the conveying device several times without inhaling through the beak, the medicine may accumulate in the vent and cause the user to inhale too much when subsequently inhaled from the beak.

In addition, since the transport means and the penetrating device must be operated separately, it may be a device that is difficult for the user to handle.

The present invention relates to a dispensing device, in particular a device for dispensing a batch of medicament, and a cartridge for use in such a device.

1 is an isometric view of a partially cut away first aspect of a dispenser.

2 to 5 are enlarged isometric views of various components of the dispenser cartridge.

6 shows the cartridge at the time of assembly.

7 is an enlarged partial schematic view of the cartridge and housing.

8A-8F are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of device components at various stages during the operating cycle of the device.

9A-9F are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of other components of the device at the corresponding stages of the operating cycle of the device.

10A-10H are schematic diagrams illustrating the various steps of a method of making a tubular container.

11A-11E illustrate components of another type of tubular container that may be filled by the method illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10F, 11E showing the container upon assembly.

12 is a cross-sectional view of the machine for filling the container shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 during one step of the method.

FIG. 13 shows the machine of FIG. 12 when used to seal one side of a container according to subsequent method steps.

14 is a cross-sectional view of a second aspect of the dispenser.

15 is a side view of components of two aspects of a dispenser.

FIG. 16 shows the ends of the components shown in FIG. 15.

17A and 17B show a container for use with a dispenser, as seen from the front and one side, respectively.

FIG. 17C is an enlarged view of a portion of the container shown in FIG. 17A.

18 to 22 are views corresponding to FIG. 14, showing the dispenser (with a container) at various stages during the operating cycle of the dispenser.

23 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment with a slight modification of a portion of the dispenser.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing a batch of finely divided solid medicine from a container having a plurality of openings, each opening being received by two opposing seals, each receiving the quantity and facing each other. Wherein the device has a housing for receiving the container, the housing having a discharge port and a vent in communication therewith, the structure for moving the container to continuously match each opening with the vent; The penetrating member includes a penetrating member that is movable from a retracted position away from the opening to an extended position extending through the opening, whereby the penetrating member ruptures one of the opposing seals and subsequently ruptures the other. It does not substantially discharge the medicament from the opening.

Thus, if the user operates the device to pierce the seal of the opening and does not inhale through the beak when the opening coincides with the vent, the medicament remains in the opening. Since the first opening no longer coincides with the vent, the material will not reach the beak later when the medicament is administered from the other opening.

Preferably, the penetrating member is advantageously made of a pin which may be hollow. When hollow, the front end of the pin is preferably sharp to create a flap in the seal that can be folded away from the individual opening to discharge the contents of the opening. The housing may advantageously comprise means for causing the flap to bend back towards the opening as it deviates from the position coinciding with the vent, further reducing the tendency for any residual material in the opening to not be released later.

If the pin is hollow, it is desirable to have an axial slot at its front end such that the front end of the pin is substantially C-shaped when the pin is viewed from the end.

The apparatus conveniently includes both conveying means for continuously matching each opening with the vent, and through means and conveying means for extending and contracting the pin so that when the user manipulates the operating member, the conveying means is activated and the seal of the opening is ruptured. It includes a common actuating member coupled to.

The conventional actuation member thus facilitates the operation of the device.

Preferably, the pin is positioned to rupture the seal of the opening while the opening coincides with the vent.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container having a plurality of sealed openings, wherein the device and each opening contains an individual amount of a medicament, wherein the container is received within a housing of the device such that each opening is provided with a vent. Moveable to coincide, the penetrating member is operable to rupture the seal of each opening with little release of medicament from each opening.

Preferably, the opening is sealed by two opposing sheet material pieces bonded to the container.

Preferably, when the penetrating member is operable to create the flap in the sheet material, each opening is flattened in the area where the bend to the flap is formed.

This has been found to reduce the amount of residual material remaining in the opening after the individual volume has been dispensed, thus reducing the waste.

The container may consist of a substantially flat plate or may be cylindrical.

If the container is cylindrical, the actuation member preferably comprises a rotating member, which rotates causing the conveying member to rotate the container and the pins in the apparatus to rupture the seal of the opening.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a stop member for defining the maximum allowable rotation of the rotating member.

Conveniently, the rotating member rotates from the first position to the second of the two positions defined by the end stops so that the pin penetrates the seal and conversely rotates the rotating member to the first position so that the transport member rotates the container. Let's do it.

The conveying means preferably comprises a braking action device operable to rotate the container only with respect to the reciprocating rotation of the rotating member.

Preferably, when a cylindrical container is mounted to the device, the pins are placed in a volume defined by the inner circumference of the container in use.

Preferably, the conveying means is connected to the rotating member by idle means arranged such that the conveying means do not move the tubular container while the penetrating member is inserted into and / or withdrawn from the compartment.

Preferably, the rotating member is connected to the shaft connected to the pin by connecting means including a crank arm pivotally attached to the pin such that the rotation of the shaft causes the pin to move almost linearly.

The invention also relates to a cartridge for use in the device comprising a container for containing said individual quantity, and the invention may introduce one or more of said penetrating means and conveying means.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for dispensing a batch of powdered medication from a container having a plurality of sealed compartments, each containing an individual amount of medication to be discharged through the outlet passage of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising: an outlet passage and Transport means that can be operated so that successive compartments coincide with each other, and through means that can be actuated to rupture the seal of each compartment continuously so that material is discharged, wherein the means for penetration and transport means are conventional manual operation. It is connected to the actuation member as far as possible, thereby activating the penetrating means and the conveying means.

By means of a conventional actuating member, the apparatus can have a relatively small design, which makes it easier to use the apparatus, for example, when separate actuating members are required for each of the conveying means and the penetrating means.

The present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes only, which show two aspects of a dispenser according to the present invention, one of which comprises a cartridge assembly (tubular container) mounted within a housing. To

1, the inhaler includes a housing 100, which has a generally cylindrical portion and is connected to a beak 102 extending substantially radially from its lower end to the body of the housing 100. The opposite end of the housing 100 includes a rotating member in the form of a cap 104, which is rotatably mounted to the remaining portion of the housing 100. Cap 104 introduces window 106 through which window 108 can see cartridge 108 contained within body 100.

2-5, the cartridge 108 includes a hollow cylindrical core 110 having a reduced diameter upper portion 112, wherein the upper portion has an upper opening 114 and an integral tang. tang 116 is provided. The core 110 also includes a lower portion 118 having a larger diameter than the upper portion 112 and defining an annular shoulder 120 where it meets the upper portion 112. Lower portion 118 includes an external screw thread 122, a radial opening 124 in its upper region, and two lower lugs 126, 128 extending axially.

The core 110 receives a vertical shaft 130, the upper portion of which protrudes beyond the opening 114. The upper portion of the shaft 130 includes a slot 132 for engaging the protuberance 136 below the upper surface of the cap 104, the shaft 130 and the cap 104 by rotation It is fixed. The bottom of the shaft 130 is provided with a radial crank arm 138 that introduces a radial slot 140 that slides and engages with a boss 142 connected to a pin 144 located above the plate 146. The pin merges with an opening (not shown) in a case 110 spaced at an angle from the opening 124.

The plate 146 with the assembly cartridge is attached inside the core by suitable means (not shown), and the pin 14 and plate 146 are axially rotated by the pin 144 by the rotation of the shaft 132. And guide means (not shown) arranged to move. Referring to FIG. 3, the shoulder 120 is rotatably mounted to the core 110 and supports a sleeve 150 surrounding the upper component 112.

The sleeve 150 includes an inner longitudinal serration 152 and two opposite longitudinal rib sets 154 and 156 opposed to each other.

Referring to FIG. 4, the agent to be dispensed is contained in a tubular container 158 having a side wall including a plurality of spinnerets arranged spirally through a hole such as 159 (FIGS. 1 and 9), each spinner having an individual dose. It contains a substance. The inner and outer surfaces of the side walls are covered with sheets of corresponding laminated foil, which seal the two ends of each hole.

Core 110 rotates sleeve 150 and vessel 158 in engagement with bottom end cap 160 with partial spiral grooves (not shown) that engage threads 122 and with rib sets 154 and 156. Extends past the center of the container 158 including an upper cap 162 that includes a set of two oppositely opposed slots 164, 166 that are secured by means of.

The upper portion of the shaft 130 includes a shoulder 133 that supports a braking member 168 that is rotatable relative to the shaft 130. The braking member 168 engages an arcuate track 172 (FIG. 7) at the bottom of the cap 104 to provide an upper boss 170 that provides an orbital connection between the cap 104 and the braking member 168. Include.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cap 104 is removable from the rest of the housing 100 such that the lower protrusions 126, 128 of the core 110 have corresponding sockets 174, 176 (the bottom of the housing 100) ( The assembly cartridge may be inserted into the housing 100 until it engages with FIG. 1) to secure the core 110 and the housing 100 by rotation.

As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 100, together with the downwardly projecting protrusions (not shown) in the cap 104, defines an acceptable range of rotational movement of the cap 104 relative to the remaining portion of the housing 100. An upper rebate 178 that provides a stop.

The protrusions 126 and 128 space the lower end of the core 110 from the housing 100 so that the interior of the core 110 may be in communication with the air inlet 180 provided on the lower surface of the beak 102, the air in the beak An air outlet 182 divided from the inlet 180 is included. The vessel 158 provides a discharge passage between the vertical interior ribs 182, 184 (FIG. 8A) that is spaced from the housing 100 and in communication with the outlet 182.

Thus, the inhaler passes through the core 110 upwards from the air inlet 180, passes through the opening 124 and the through-holes containing the corresponding amounts of medicament, and then passes through the discharge passage down to the outlet 182. Include base (marked with arrow). In order to take an individual amount of medication from the inhaler, the user rotates the cap 104 from one end to the other end, and vice versa, so that the pin 144 ruptures the foil seal of the through hole and then the through hole exits the outlet passage. And move to where it merges. 8A to 8F and 9A to 9F, this operation will be described in more detail.

8A shows the dispenser in its initial state with the pin 144 in the retracted position and all compartments sealed. When the handle 104 is rotated clockwise as indicated by arrow 184 of FIG. 8B, the shaft 130 rotates correspondingly, and then the crank arm 138 rotates to pin 144 the cavity. The pin 144 is pushed out until it penetrates the inner seal of 186 (FIG. 9B). During this process, slot 172 reciprocates with respect to pin 170 such that braking member 168 does not rotate until pin 170 engages with the reciprocating end of slot 172. Rotating the handle 104 further in the same direction causes the braking member 168 to rotate only clockwise relative to the sleeve 150 correspondingly. In this case, the toothed inner edge of the sleeve 150 and the tang 116 are engaged so that the sleeve does not rotate counterclockwise. When the limit of acceptable clockwise rotation is reached, the braking member 168 is in the position shown in FIG. 8C, and the pin 144 is in the position shown in FIG. 9C, with the pin closing the hole 186. It is pushed beyond and penetrates the inner and outer seals.

Then, rotating the handle 104 in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 8D causes the pin 144 to withdraw from the hole 186. While the pin 144 is withdrawn, the slot 172 moves relative to the boss 170 to prevent the sleeve 150 (and ultimately the container 158) from moving until the pin 144 is fully withdrawn. . Further rotation of the handle 104 counterclockwise causes the sleeve 150 to rotate by engaging the boss 117 and the slot 172. Since the sleeve is secured by rotation to the vessel 158, this movement causes the vessel 158 to rotate on the lower portion 118 of the core 110, which has a cap 160 and a thread ( As a result of the engagement of 122, it moves past the hole including the hole 186 along the partial spiral path. When the handle 104 reaches the allowable counterclockwise rotation, the hole 186 will coincide with the discharge passage, as shown in FIG. 8F (FIG. 9F).

The user then inhales through the outlet 182 of the beak 102, as a result of which air flows through the device from the hole 186 past the discharge chamber and out of the outlet 182.

Referring to FIG. 1, the beak 102 also includes a grating 190 for capturing apart sealing foil pieces that will drift during inhalation.

Pin 144 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 15 and 16. The pin includes a hollow cylindrical body 301 having an inclined front edge 302 and an upper axial slot 303 extending from the top of the edge. As can be seen in FIG. 16, the edge 302 is almost C-shaped when viewed at the end. In use, the bottom of the edge 302 becomes the first portion of the pin 301 through the foil seal when the pin 301 is pushed out. The front edge 302 defines two flaps by making a partial circular cut in each foil. Since the portion of the foil aligned with the slot 303 is not cut, each portion defines a bend that connects the individual flaps to the rest of the foil seal. The pin 301 not only creates the flap, but also pushes the radially outer flap outward as it is pushed out, and pulls the radially inner flap inward when it contracts to move away from the medicine to be dispensed.

While the pin 301 is inserted into the hole, a batch of material in the hole is little or no released by the pin.

Since the substance is discharged into the discharge passage only when the user inhales and from a hole coinciding with the passage, the risk of inadvertent overtaking can be avoided by manipulating the cap several times before the user inhales.

10A-10H, the container consists of a body 201 comprising a plurality of through holes (eg, 202) for containing individual amounts of medicament. For clarity, the body shown in FIGS. 10A-10H is shown as having only 16 of the through holes, but in practice, more through holes may be present in the body 201.

In the case of the assembly container, the main body 201 has an overall cylindrical shape, and the radially disposed through holes are sealed by the outer sheet 204 and the inner sheet 206 of the laminated foil attached to the main body 201.

Referring to FIG. 10A, the main body 201 is made of a rectangular plate made of plastic material (indicated by reference numeral 201), and the lower surface thereof includes a plurality of grooves 208 arranged in a regular parallel arrangement. The groove 208 divides the plate 201 into a number of parallel rigid strips (eg, strips 210 across the width of the plate), with adjacent pairs of strips having a corresponding reduced thickness portion ( Eg, part 212). The thickness of the plastic material constituting these parts is such that adjacent strips can be folded adjacent to each other. All through holes in the plate 201 are provided in the strip.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the plate 201 is laid flat on a bed 214 made of porous material, the top surface of the plate is not recessed, and the top surface of the plate 201 is a powdered chemical layer. Covered with 216, the powdered medicine covers one end of each through hole in the plate 201.

Referring to FIG. 10C, air is guided out of the through holes through the bed 214, allowing the drug 216 to be sucked into each through hole. The porosity of bed 214 is such that it is impermeable to medicament 216. As a result, the bed 214 prevents the drug 216 from discharging from the bottom of the through hole.

Once the through hole is filled with the drug 216, any excess drug that is not directed to the through hole is removed by moving the elastic flexible blade 218 across the top surface of the plate 201 (FIG. 10d). Then, the sheet 204 may be heat sealed to the top surface of the plate 201 (FIG. 10E), and then the plate may be flipped to similarly apply the sheet 206 to the opposite surface of the plate 201 (FIG. 10F). ).

Due to the flexibility provided by the reduced thickness portions between the strips of the plate 201, the plate 201 can be wound into an overall cylindrical shape (FIG. 10G), in which case the strips are provided with grooves on the inner surface of the cylindrical plate ( Extends axially along 208 to form a body 201.

Once the body 201 is formed, two annular end caps 220, 222 are applied, one at each end of the cylinder. Each cap includes an annular track (e.g., track 224) in which the strip extends into tight mating. Therefore, the caps 220 and 222 prevent the body 1 from being released. Components shown in FIGS. 11A-11E are identical to those shown in FIGS. 10A-10H, and corresponding components are indicated by the same reference numerals, incremented by 30. Thus, the container is filled with the powdered medicament by the same method as shown in Figs. 10A to 10H, one side is sealed with the first sheet 234 of the laminated foil and the other side is the second sheet 236 of the laminated foil. ) And a cylindrical body 231 formed by winding a plate (referred to by reference numeral 231) having a plurality of through holes 232, which are sealed with (the body is inverted and applied to the body).

It can be seen that the body 231 contains a larger number of through holes 232 than the body 201, and therefore may contain a larger amount of medicament than the body 201. In addition to each groove in each main body 231, the groove 238 is conical to facilitate winding of the plate 231. Caps 250 and 252 each include oppositely opposed inner slot arrangements (eg, 256 and 258), whereby the container can be secured by rotation to a rotating core or to an inhaler in which the container is used.

As can be seen in FIG. 11A, the through holes are arranged to lie in a spiral path on the body 231 when assembling the container.

Referring to FIG. 12, a device for filling a container includes a filling station provided with a filling head 260 constituting a cylindrical body including a rectangular top plate 262 of dimensions corresponding to the plate 264. It is. Vertical peripheral wall 266 extends from plate 262 to plate 264 such that head 260 and plate 264 define fill chamber 268. Plate 262 includes a central opening 270 in communication with air inlet 272. Chamber 268 contains diffuser 274 located between opening 270 and plate 264. The head includes an additional inlet (not shown) for introducing powder material into the chamber 268 between the diffuser 274 and the plate 264.

In use, air is introduced into the chamber 268 through the opening 270 to flow powder material into the chamber 268 and increase the air pressure in the chamber. As the air pressure increases, air flows out of the chamber through the through opening in the plate 264 and past the porous bed 276 on which the plate 264 is supported.

This flow of air sends material to the through openings to fill the through openings.

Dissipator 274 ensures an even flow of air over the powder bed, eliminating the tendency for air to be introduced into the holes in the powder. Dissipator 274 and bed 276 are made of similar porous material.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the head 260 moves laterally away from the plate 264, and the sheet 280 of the foil seal is positioned above the plate 264 by foil supply means (not shown). . The upper heater block 282 also moves to coincide with the plate 264 and then vertically descends onto the foil 280 and the plate 264 to seal the foil 280 onto the plate.

The opening includes means (not shown) for turning the plate 264 over so that the sheet of foil can be applied to the opposite side in the same manner, and means for winding the plate 264 to form a cylindrical body.

14 and 23, the second aspect of the dispenser comprises a housing 304 of rectangular cross section, and a pair of opposing side plates 313, 315, and in two variants the housing 304 has a pair of guide rods. rods 337 and 339 include a backplate 315 from which they protrude. In the variant of the second aspect shown in FIGS. 14 and 18-22, the housing 304 is formed with a passageway 306 sealed at the top, and forms a portion of the beak 310 at its bottom. ) Has a front plate 317 in communication with the chamber 308. The passage 306 is also in communication with the opening 312 in part along its length. As shown in FIG. 23, another front plate 317 ′ of the housing has a recess 319 that receives a tube 321 that forms part of a separate beak assembly 310 ′.

The tube 321 has a side opening 323 corresponding to the position of the opening 312 and acting on the opening 312. The tube 321 is also in communication with the vertical passageway in the plate 317 ′, the top of which is open and terminates at the opening 325. Plate 327 secures beak assembly 310 'on plate 317'. In all other respects, the variant shown in Fig. 23 is the same as the variant shown in Figs. 14 and 18-22, so that the same reference numerals are used to denote the same components.

Each side plate 313, 315 extends from the top of the housing to the bottom and includes guide tracks 314, 327, respectively, which assist in positioning the sliders described below when used.

The plates 313 and 315 also consist of guide tracks, one of which can be seen at 305 (overlaid on the other components in FIGS. 18-22), each of which is a vertical portion 307 and a circuit 309. ) Has a lower part in the form. Each track also ends at the inclined portion 311. The housing 304 also houses a hollow rectangular piece of slider member 316 that terminates at the upper handle 318. A button 320 is mounted on the base of the handle 318, which is inclined outward by the compression spring 322 to the position shown in FIG.

The slider includes a pair of side plates 341, 343, each having an outer vertical rib, one of which can be seen at 345, wherein the rib is fitted to each of the tracks 314,327. Plate 343 has two cam tracks 324 ', 326', which are aligned with individual identical tracks 324,326 in plate 341, respectively.

Bar 347 has one end boss 349 extending to track 326 'and a boss 351 extending to track 326 at its opposite end. A through pin 328 of the type shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 protrudes from the center of the rod 347 past the hole 353 of the other rod 355. Rod 355 moves to pins 330, 330 ′ on the side of pin 328. The rods also have opposing end bosses 361 and 363 extending into individual tracks 325 and 324 ', respectively.

Rods 347 and 355 are both supported on and supported by rods 337 and 339.

The slider 316 also carries a pair of hauling arms 332 and 332 ', which are placed on individual plates 341 and 343, respectively, located on either side of the pins 330 and 330' and through pins 328. . Each haul arm has an outer end 334 that includes a finger 336. The outer ends of the delivery arms are located on the sides of the passages 306, each arm having bosses 340 and 340 ′, respectively, engaged in one of the tracks 305 in the housing plate 313 or a corresponding opposite track.

The housing also contains a center block 365 having an opening through which the pins 330, 330 ′, 328 can extend. The block also has two opposite side ribs 367, 369 that serve as guides for the container used with the inhaler.

For clarity, the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 18-22 are taken in two planes; The cross section of the plate 343 and the arm 332 was taken in the plane of the plate 343, and the cross section of the button 318 and the housing 304 was taken in the vertical plane which splits the inhaler. In addition, the pin 328 and the rod 347 overlap with the rod 355 and the pin 330 in cross section.

Containers for use in such dispensers include a plate 342 comprising a central column of ten openings 344 each containing a separate amount of medicament. As can be seen from 346, each opening has a flat edge (eg, 348). In the container housed in the dispenser, the flat edge constitutes the top of the opening. The rows of openings are located on the sides of the additional openings of the two rows 340 and 352 used by the dispenser to position and transport the container.

The foil stack (not shown) of the two strips is glued to opposite sides of the container to seal the opening in the pillar 344. In order for the dispenser to receive the container, the delivery arm 332,332 'must move away from the area of the dispenser occupied by the container. The button 320 is pushed down to its end and the slider 316 is lowered to move the projection located on each arm along the inclined bottom portion of each track. This causes the hauling arm to pivot clockwise until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 18, wherein the fingers of each arm (eg, 336) are laterally spaced apart from the track 314 and the opposing track of the housing. It is. The container 342 can then be inserted into the bottom of the housing and pushed along the track to the position shown in FIG. 18.

19, the slider 316 is raised to move away from the housing 304 as the button 320 pops out. The projections on each transport arm then move up from the inclined bottom portion of the individual track to the right portion of the circuit 309 of the track (as can be seen in the figure). As a result, the two haul arms pivot counterclockwise until they are located in the respective holes in the upper portions of the pillars 344 and 352 of the finger container 342 at the arm end. Thus, the continuous upward movement of the slider 316 moves the container 342 upwards until the position shown in FIG. 19 is reached, wherein the drug containing openings on the top of the pillar 344 are in contact with the through pin 328. Matches.

As the user continues to lift the slider 318, the boss on each transport arm reciprocates from the circuit portion of the individual track to its vertical portion, until the finger at the arm's outer end is disengaged from the hole located at each. Will move in the opposite direction.

Raising slider 316 moves cam tracks 324, 324 ', 326 and 326' with respect to rods 347 and 355. As can be seen in the figure, the shape of the tracks is such that they extend into the holes already occupied by the fingers of the transport arm end so that the upper drug-containing opening coincides with both the pin 328 and the opening 312 in the passage 306. The upward movement of the slider initially extends the pins 330, 330 ′ until the vessel holds the vessel.

As the user continues to raise the slider 316, the through pins 328 are pushed out of the drug containing opening by the tracks 326 and 326 ', thereby drilling through the foil seals on both sides of the opening.

Then, when the user lowers the slider to the position shown in FIG. 22, the boss (e.g., 340) on the transport arm returns to the position shown in FIG. 14 past the left side of the circuit portion of the individual track, The finger is engaged with the hole in the next position below the hole previously engaged. This movement also constricts the pins 328, 330, 330 ′. The user may administer the medicament from the first central opening by inhaling through the beak 310.

The circuit portion of the track (e.g., track 305) that moves the transport arm has a number of one-way gates such that the bosses 340, 340 'of each arm always move around the individual circuits in the same sense.

With the user, air is introduced through the bottom of the housing 304, the center of the slider 316, and the opening 312, through an opening containing a medicament, coinciding with the opening.

The next time a batch of medication is needed, the user raises the slider 316 which transports the container up through the dispenser to align the next batch of medication containing holes with the opening 312 and pin the seal. 328). This process is repeated until all of the medication contained in the container is aspirated and the container is removed from the top of the housing 304.

In use, it can be seen that the button 320 acts as a stop for limiting the amount of downward movement of the slider 316 when the container is not fed into the housing.

Claims (15)

Apparatus for dispensing a batch of powdered medicine from a container having a plurality of openings, each containing a single dose of medicine and sealed by two opposing seals, each opening having a vent and a vent in communication with the outlet A housing for receiving the container, the housing having a structure for moving the container to continuously coincide with the vent, the opening being moveable from the retracted position away from the container to the extended position extending past the opening And a piercing member that ruptures the seal with little release of medicament therefrom. The method of claim 1, And the penetrating member comprises a hollow pin. The method according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the pin has a shape that creates a seal flap that bends away from the opening to eject the contents from the opening. The method of claim 3, wherein Apparatus wherein the front end of the pin is nearly C-shaped when viewed from the end. The method of claim 4, wherein Including a common actuation member coupled to both the penetrating member and the indexing means to continuously match each opening with the vent, so that when the user manipulates the actuating member, the conveying means is actuated while the seal of the opening is ruptured. Device as much as possible. The method of claim 5, And the through member is positioned to rupture the seal of the opening when the opening coincides with the vent. A machine comprising a device according to claim 6 and a container having a plurality of sealing openings, each containing an individual amount of a medicament, And the container is housed in the housing of the device and is movable such that each opening is continuously aligned with the vent and the through member of the device is operable to rupture the seal with little release of medicament from each opening. The method of claim 7, wherein A machine in which the openings are all sealed by two opposite pieces of sheet material bonded to the container. The method of claim 8, When attached to the apparatus according to claim 3, each opening in the container is flat in the region where the bend of the flap is formed. The method of claim 9, Wherein the container is cylindrical and a rotating member rotates to selectively transport the container and the pin to rupture the seal of the opening. The method of claim 10, Machine with stop means for limiting the maximum allowable rotation of the rotating member. The method of claim 11, A machine, in which a rotating member rotates to said one position and the container is transported while the rotating member is rotated from one of the two positions defined by the end stop to the other such that the pin passes through the seal. The method of claim 12, A machine in which a penetrating member is placed in a volume defined by an inner circumference of a cylindrical vessel. The method of claim 13, A machine in which the rotating member is connected to the container by means of revolution arranged to prevent the container from rotating by the rotating member while the penetrating member is inserted into or withdrawn from the opening. A cartridge for use in a machine according to claim 14, comprising a container containing a batch of medicament and means for introducing the penetrating member, and means for transporting the container.